In this week's automotive adventures, Steve enjoys a waft in the opulent Bentley Mulsanne, but can't help noticing it feels a little more vintage than it used to, coos over classics at the Salon Privé and more.
Monday
At the beginning of an extraordinary week of undeserved opulence, a Bentley Mulsanne sighs into our drive, my transport to tomorrow’s Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace, 40 miles away. The V8 ‘woofle’ is so delicious that the Steering Committee and I seize the chance of a few miles of wafting at lunchtime, at once marvelling at the car’s ability to smooth pock-marked local roads while disloyally noticing that the distinguished old flagship’s age is showing here and there.
More recent cars from Crewe have better proportions, more logical controls and nicer seats. They’re also a shade quieter and ride a bit better. Even from our lowly position as occasional Bentley users, we see things have moved on. Back home after 50 miles, I can’t decide whether such conclusions are soul destroying or life affirming…
Tuesday
Media day at Salon Privé. The weather is beautiful and it’s instantly clear the event has been hearteningly well supported by the motor industry, despite all else. Alpine, Morgan, McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley and Lotus are among the makers on hand, and there’s the usual smattering of speculative hypercars I’ve hardly heard of. I can’t find the appointed car park so I leave the Mulsanne among the exhibits on the main drive. The yellow vests don’t care; it fits right in.
For us, these events are talking-shops. The Morgan guys announce that their new visitors’ centre is open: come and see. A Lotus bloke enigmatically lets slip that his company and Williams Advanced Engineering – recently at loggerheads over progress with the Evija electric hypercar – are now “co-operating to deliver success”. Not the end of the story, clearly. Bentley boss Adrian Hallmark tells me Crewe is back at 100% production, has plenty of orders and is on target to deliver its promised mid-2020s battery model. Whenever I hear Hallmark speak, he strikes me as one of the very few for whom running a globally important luxury car company is a natural level.
Wednesday
Today I leave the Bentley at home in favour of a chauffeured Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which wafts me from Gloucestershire to the Goodwood HQ so I can try the new R-R Ghost. Yes, I know my colleague Mr Prior has already reflected on it, but they offered and I couldn’t resist. At first I’d thought a few Rolls-versus-Bentley observations might be possible, but the Ghost is starting a career whereas the Mulsanne has moved into retirement. Not a fair fight.
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Arrrogance
Says it all really. As soon as Steve gets a Bentley he feels he can just park where he likes and to hell with the plebs parking where they are meant to. He'll be doing the school run next and parking on the zig zags by the crossings.
Clearly you did not read the
Clearly you did not read the report, and if you have EVER attended this event, as i have, a number of times, you would know (as it says) the exhibits are parked on the driveway, therefore he parked exactly where he was supposed to park, so how is that Arrrogance ???? Try reading the post before commenting.
Hi jonboy
He states he couldn't find the appointed car park and just dumped the car amongst a line of exhibiting cars. I stand by my earlier comment!
OMG the XJ13
It's perfect. The ultimate Jag.
And how the hell did they do a DOHC V12?!?!?!
I'm in love.